Drier



May 20 1930- l.. G. MERRlT-r DRIER Filed May 26, 1927 3 Sheet's-Sheet l ATTORNEYS. l

May 20 1930- G. MERRITT 1,759,130

DRIER Filed May 26, 1927 3 Shams-Sheet 2 A TTORNEYS.

May 20, l 930. L. G. MERRlT-r 1,759,130

DRIER Filed May 2e, 1927 s sheets-sheet s Er .-1 i? Er H j@ C m 'EX' TQR. 2e. f BY ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 20, 1930 PATENT OFFICE LOUIS G. MERRITT, OF LOCKPORT, NEW YORK 13R-IEB.

Application led May 26, 1927. Serial No. 194,441.

This invention relates to a functionally and structurally improved machine for treating material.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device of this character particularly intended for use in connection with the drying of sheet material, and specifically, veneer,

and which machine will be of relatively simple construction, embodying comparatively w few parts, each individually rugged,so that the machine will operate over long periods of time with freedom from mechanical diliiculty.

A further object of the invention is that 15 of constructing a dryingmachine in which the material being driedl will be properly treated in a minimum amount of time, and which machine will require a minimum amount of manual attention.

Another object is that of providing a machine the operation of which may be controlled with nicety, according to the conditions of the material being treated, and in which the finished work will be of high I .25 quality.

Other objects of the invention-Will in part be obvious and will in part appeal' hereinafter.

With these and further objects in mind,

the invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplifiedin the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying one form of construction of the present invention, certain of the parts being broken away to disclose underlying construction v Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view there- Fig. 3 is an end view; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary partly sectlonal plan View Figs. 5 and 6 show diagrammatically the arrangement of the parts conveying and treating the material; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan View showing a detail of the material conveyor.

In these several views the numeral 10 indicates the machine base, preferably in the form of girders supporting and forming a part of the framework of the machine, which, as shown, may embrace groups of verticallyextending supports 11 arranged adjacent the opposite ends of the machine and substantially intermediate such ends, these supports carrying horizontally-extending angle irons and plates providing in aggregate a plurality of superposed hollow girders 12 spaced from each other a distance suficient to provide for the accommodation therebetween of at least a conveyor and sheet of material.

These several parts may be enclosed within a suitable cabinet 13, which, as shown, may be lined with heat-insulating material 14; it being noted that the conveyors, which are indicated generally at 15, are endless and pass at the intake end of the machine around. sprocket wheels 16 mounted on shafts 17 supported by fixed bearings; the conveyors at the outlet end of the machine preferably extending materially beyond the same and being supported upon sprocket wheels 18 mounted upon shafts 19, which, in the present instance, are supported by bearings carried by blocks 20, the latter beingshiftable longitudinally of the machine by means of screw-threaded rods 21.

1t is here to be understood that the general framework of the machine, the method of cated at 22, may be utilized to supplement the supporting action of the groups 11.

Referring now to the specific construction of the conveyor ai shown particularly in Figs. 4 to 7, it will be observed that this inember may comprise a plurality of suitable chain links 23 each carrying one end of a bar 24, the ends 25 of which are bent to extend substantially at right angles to the body thereof, the length of these end portions being slightly less than the space extent between adjacent bars. Obviously, a conveyor of this nature will have effectual driving support by means of the pairs of sprockets 16 and 18, and upon the latter being rotated by a drive (not shown) the conveyors will be moved; it being understood that the movement of the different conveyors is synchronized. j

In the embodiment illustrated four conveyors are shown, and, as a consequence, four strips or series of sheet material may be fed continuously into the left-hand end of the machine, as in Fig. 1, and removed therefrom at the right-hand end. With a view to treating the material as it is moved by said conveyors, heat is preferably employed, and to this end a series of horizontally-extending pipes 26 is arranged above the .upper face of each conveyor, these pipes being connected in groups to manifolds 27, inturn connected, for example, to a suitable source of steam supply (not shown), so that each group of pipes 26 serves as a radiator immediately above and spaced from the material passing through the machine. These pipes are spaced individually from each other so that together with the manifolds 27 they form compartments, the walls of which serve as heating elements and accommodate within them the rollers 28 which rest upon the upper surface of the conveyors and bear against the material transported thereby; it being noted that incident to the distance between the adjacent pipes 26 these serve as spacers and confiners for the rollers 28, which. while they permit rotation thereof, serve eifectually to confine any tendency of the rollers to travel laterally. As will be readily understood, the rollers 28 are urged or biased toward the material on the adjacent conveyors due to the action of gravity thereon.

In machines of this' nature it is desirable to have a circulation of air, which may be dehydrated to a suitable degree in order to carry o' the steam and other gases emanating from the bodies of the sheets of material under the action of the heat from the pipes 26, and the pressure exerted by the 4rollers 28. With this in mind, and as has been indicated generally in Fig. 4, the hollow girders 12 provide conduits and may be perforated as at 29 so that air may be forced into the machine or withdrawn therefrom by means of'pumping mechanism (not shown). Preferably, as has been indicated in this figure, thetiers of girders 12 arranged adjacent the ends of the machine serve to inject air into the same, and the central tier of girders serves to withdraw or permit the escape of air therefrom.

Thus, it will be obvious that by, means of suitmachine at its opposite end, for example,

may contain a greater amount of moisture so as to prevent too rapid drying of the material being treated in its second stage or passage through the rear half of the machine.

Finally, it will be noted that it is preferred, in order eectually to support the conveyor between the vertical supports, that tracks be employed, which, as in Fig.' 2, may be formed of the inwardly-extendin arms of angle irons 30, the conveyors resting in sliding contact upon the upper faces of these arms and also bearing against the upper surfaces of I-beams 31. Both the beams and angle irons are conveniently su ported between the girders 12, and it will be observed that the supporting surfaces of these elements are preferably in line with the upper surfaces of the girders so that these latter surfaces may form continuations of the track surfaces aorded by the bridging elements, i. e., the beams and angle irons. Also, in Fig. l, it will be noted that further groups of pipes 32 may be disposed between the upper and lower surfaces of each conveyor, these pipes being connected, as by manifolds 33, for example, to the same source of heat supply as that to which the manifolds 27 are connected.

It will be a parent that the sheet material--specitical y, veneer-may be fed into the intake end of the machine in any suitable manner, either automatically or manually, and removed from the outlet end thereof, as

desired. Incident to the use of rollers for exerting a pressing action upon the sheet material, the latter will be flattened effectually in its passage through the machine, and the surfaces thereof which come in contact with the rollers will be polished to a certain extent. Incident to the rolling contact between the flattening members and the sheets, there will be no danger of the latter being stained. as would be the case,for example, if .the sheets contained a certain amount of acid and were in permanent contact with the treating members.

Due to the fact that the material is supported upon a substantially continuous surface, i. e., a series of bars associated with the sprocket chains of the conveyors, the machine will readily handle small sheets without danger of clogging, and will handle also extremely thn and flexible sheets, in that the latter cannot drop between the supporting and/or treating members. The return strand of each conveyor being in frictional contact with the upper surfaces of the rollers in an adjacent and lower tier of the machine, these rollers `will be driven iu a properdirection by such return strand, and, as a consequence, entire dependency 4upon thei-r being driven by the sheets with consequent danger of slippage between them and the sheets being treated may be avoided. When the rollers are in direct contact with the upper lface of the conveyor with which they cooperate., as, for example, incident to the spaces extant vbetween succeeding sheets or strips of material, they will not drop partially' into the spaces between succeeding rods 24, but, incident to the end-portions of these rods and the fact that the rollers are of a length greater than the width of the conveyor, they will ride upon the substantially continuous tracks provided by those end-portions, avoiding all difficulty in this connection. Also, it will be observedthat undue end movement on the .part of the rollers is precluded, in that if' they tend to shift axially to an undue extent they will come in contact with the manifolds 27 As previously brought out, the pipes supported by these manifolds in turn serve as cages or confining members for the rollers, preventing them from moving longitudinally of the machine under the driving influence vof the conveyor or sheets supported thereby; it being understood that the showing in Figs. 5 and 6 is such that the spacing between the rollers and adj acent pipes has been rather overemphasized.

The machine will embody a single-direction feed, so that it is unnecessary to have duplicate provisions at each end for both introducing and removing the material being treated, and the air flow through the machine is longitudinally thereof so that maximum treating effect may be derived from the use of the air circulation; it being noted that, incident to the provision of preferably more than twogroups of girders or air injectors and removers, the machine may be divided into any desirable number of zones,avoiding the necessity of the air traversing the entire length of the machine, with consequent inefficiency adjacent the. air-removal end thereof; or, if the air is dehydrated to an extreme extent at the injection end of the machine, likelihood of damage to the material being treated. Due to the disposal ofthe heat-radiating members or groups of pipes in immediate proximity to the material being treated, they will act thereon with maximum efficiency, and, incident to the direct contact between the same and the rollers, the latter will be maintained at an efficient treating temperature.

Obviously, a machine of this nature may be constructed and operated at a minimum energy consistent with turning out properly finished Work, and, aside/from these advantages, a machine embodying the present invention will be of a minimum height, having in mind the number of tiers embraced therein.

Thus, among others, the objects of the invention have been accomplished, and since herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which as a matter of lanwuage might be said to fall therebetween.

I- aving described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by. Letters Patent is:

1. A treating machine for sheet material, including, in combination, a conveyor of the endless-apron type, a series of rollers disposed adjacently and loosely supported by the upper surface of said conveyor, means for driving said conveyor, and a heating element having means for separating said rollers and confining their movement to substantial vertical planes.

2. A treating machinefor sheet material, including a pair of spaced superposed endless conveyors, means for driving the same in substantial synchronism,`rollers mounted by the lower conveyor and driven thereby, the lower flight of the upper Conveyor bearing against, and also'driving, said rollers.

3. A machine for treating sheet material, including, in combination, a pair of spaced superposed endless conveyors, rollers mount` ed for movement at an angle to the directions of travel of said conveyors and disposed upon the upper flight of the lower conveyor, and means for driving both conveyors, the lower flight of the upper conveyor having driving connection with said rollers.

4. A machine for treating sheet material, including, in combination, a conveyor presenting a substantially continuous supporting surface, means for driving said conveyor, rollers disposed upon said conveyor and driven thereby, and heating means having members extending between said rollers for separating the same and restraining the movement thereof in the direction of travel of said conveyor.

5. A drying machine for sheet material, including, in combination, a conveyor presenting a substantially continuous supporting surface, means for driving said conveyor, rollers disposed upon said conveyor and to be driven thereby, and roller-heating members disposed bet-Ween said rollers and contacting therewith for heating the latter, said members` restraining the movement of said rollers in the direction of movement of said convevor.

6. A drying machine for sheet material,

including, in combination, a conveyor, means driven by said conveyor, and a series of pipes extending one between each pair of rollers andconnected with a source of heat supply, said pipes preventing movement of said rollers in the direction of travel of said conveyor.

7. A drying machine for sheet material, including, in combination, a conveyor, means for driving the same, rollerssupported and vdriven by said conveyor and a series of ipes extending one between each pair of ro ers, and manifolds connecting the ends of sa1d pipes, said manifolds being connected with a. source of heat supply and extending beyond the roller ends to confine axial movement thereof` said pipes preventing movement of said rollers in the direction of travel of said conveyor.

8. A material-treating machine for sheet material, including, in combination, a conveyor comprising a pair of spaced members, sheet-supporting elements extending therebetween, track members extending beyond said conveyor members, and rollers moved by said conveyor and riding upon said track members.

9. A material-treating machine, including, in combination, a conveyor, means for driving the same, and rollers mounted upon said conveyor and to be driven thereby, said conveyor including aplurality of spaced bars presenting in aggregate a sheet-supporting surface, the ends of said bars being bent to extend at an angle to the bodies thereof and providing in aggregate a track for the mounting of said rollers.

10. A material-treating machine, including, in combination, a conveyor, and rollers mounted upon said conveyor to be driven thereby, said conveyor including a pair of spaced flexible elements, bars extending therebetween, the ends of said bars extending beyond the ends of said members and being bent at an angle to the bodies thereof and in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of travel of the conveyor, such end-portions providing in aggregate a track for the support of said rollers.

11. A drying machine, including a frame, groups of hollow girders mounted by said frame, conveyors supported by said girders, means for enclosing said conveyors, and said girders being formed with openings for the escape of air into and from said machine.

12. In a veneer-drying -machine combinat-ion, a frame and an endless flexible conveyor supported thereby, means for holding the upper, or feed, flight of said conveyor in one plane, a plurality of spaced rollers urged toward said upper flight of said conveyor, and a heating grid; havinv compartments adapted to maintain said rollers in spaced and substantially parallel relation.

13. In a veneer-drying machine combination, a frame, a plurality of superposed endless conveyors supported thereby, a plurality of rollers urged toward the upper, or feed, flight of each of said conveyors, and means for mainta`ning said rollers in spaced and substantially parallel relationship, the lower, or return, flight of each of said conveyors cooperating to rotate certain of said rollers.

14. In a veneer-drying machine, an endless llexible conve or for supporting and feeding material an comprising a plurality of spaced parallel rods having bent portions to provide a substantially continuous supporting surface and avplurality of rollers pressing against and riding on said continuous \surface.

15. A drying machine for sheet material, including, in combination, aj conveyor, means for driving the same, rollers supported and driven by said conveyor, a series of pipes extending one between each air of rollers and connected with a source ofheat supply, said pipes preventing movement of said rollers in the direction of travel of said conveyor, and a second series of pipes disposed below said conveyor and connected with a source of heat supply, said conveyor having openings therein whereby the heat from said last-mentioned pipes may act upon the material to be dried.

16. A material-treating machine, including, in combination, a conveyor and means for driving the same, said conveyor including a pair of spaced sprocket chains, and bars connected to the links of said chains and extending therebetween, said bars providing in aggregate an article-supporting surface and being roundedon their upper side to provide minimum contact with the article to e supported, rollers supported on said bars, and a heating grid arranged above and spaced from said bars and having transversely disposed portions forming openings over said bars.

17. A treating machine for sheet material, including, in combination, a conveyor of the endless apron type, 'a series of rollers disposed adjacently and loosely supported by said conveyor, means for driving said conveyor, and a heating grid having compartments adapted to segregate said rollers and confine their vertical movement to predetermined desired directions.

18. A treating machine for sheet material, including, in combination, a pair of spaced conveyors of the endless apron type, means for driving the same in substantial synchronism, rollers mounted by the lower conveyor and driven thereby, the lower flight of the upper conveyor bearing against and being driven by said rollers, and a heating grid disposed adjacent said conveyors and cooperating to define the movement of said rollers.

19. A machine for treating sheet material, including, in combination, a conveyor pre senting substantially continuous supporting surface, means for driving said conveyor, 

